Adapter panel with lateral sliding adapter arrays

ABSTRACT

An adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters defining open rearward cable connections and open forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. The adapters being arranged in arrays that slide independently of other adapter arrays to provide access to the open rearward and open forward cable connections.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/722,438,filed Dec. 20, 2012, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.12/930,783, filed Jan. 14, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,340,490, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 12/460,161, filed Jul. 13, 2009,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,873,252, which is a continuation of application Ser.No. 11/655,760, filed Jan. 19, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,570,860, whichapplications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to devices for use in the telecommunicationsindustry, and associated methods. More specifically, this disclosurerelates to a termination panel for use in the telecommunicationsindustry, and methods associated with termination panels.

BACKGROUND

Many local area networks and telecommunication systems utilizetermination panels to provide cross-connections betweentelecommunications equipment. Demand for greater telecommunicationservices has prompted the increase in circuit densities of terminationpanels. Notwithstanding the advances made in the art, there is acontinuous need for further advances to improve upon high-densitytermination panels and associated methods. Improvements are needed, forexample, to enhance termination access and cable management associatedwith installation, maintenance, repair, upgrade, and cross-connectionprocedures related to termination panels.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to an adapter panel arrangement includinga chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters define open rearwardcable connections and open forward cable connections of the panelarrangement. The adapters are arranged in arrays that slideindependently of other arrays to provide access to the open rearward andopen forward cable connections.

A variety of examples of desirable product features or methods are setforth in part in the description that follows, and in part will beapparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing variousaspects of the disclosure. The aspects of the disclosure may relate toindividual features as well as combinations of features. It is to beunderstood that both the foregoing general description and the followingdetailed description are explanatory only, and are not restrictive ofthe claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an adapter panelarrangement, in accordance with the principles disclosed, shown with adrawer of the adapter panel arrangement in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the adapter panel arrangement ofFIG. 1, shown with the drawer in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the adapter panel arrangement ofFIG. 2, shown with a cover of the arrangement closed;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the adapter panel arrangement ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the adapter panel arrangement of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the adapter panel arrangement of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a sliding framepiece and an adapter array of the adapter panel arrangement of FIG. 1,shown in isolation;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the sliding frame piece and adapterarray of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the sliding frame piece and adapter arrayof FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of a guide of theadapter panel arrangement of FIG. 1, shown in isolation;

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the guide of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the guide of FIG. 10, and a portion of thesliding frame piece of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the adapter panel arrangement ofFIG. 2, shown with an adapter array positioned in a forward position;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the adapter panel arrangement ofFIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the adapter panel arrangement of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the presentdisclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a distribution frame or adapter panel arrangement 10in accordance with the principles disclosed. The adapter panelarrangement 10 is designed to provide a high density of cableterminations, yet facilitate access to the cable terminations from therear during installation procedures, and from the front duringpost-installation procedures.

The adapter panel arrangement 10 of the present disclosure generallyincludes a chassis 12 having an interior 14. The interior 14 is definedby a top wall 16, a bottom wall 18, a rear wall 20, and side walls 22,24. The adapter panel arrangement 10 also includes a sliding drawer 34that slides between an open position (FIG. 1) and a closed position(FIG. 2). A front cover 26 is attached to the sliding drawer 34. Whenthe drawer 34 is in the closed position, the front cover 26 encloses theinterior 14 of the chassis 12 when closed (FIG. 3) and provides accessto the interior 14 when open (FIG. 2).

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the adapter panel arrangement 10includes a framework structure 30 (FIG. 1) that is attached or mountedto the drawer 34. A panel of adapters 32 is mounted to the frameworkstructure 30. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, thedrawer 34 is designed to slide outward from the chassis 12 primarily forinstallation purposes. That is, the drawer 34 can be slid to the openposition during installation or assembly of the adapter panelarrangement, but is position in the closed position (FIG. 2) duringoperative use of the arrangement 10. During operative use, the frameworkstructure 30 and the panel of adapters 32 are located within theinterior 14 of the chassis 12 and the drawer 34 is in the closedposition (FIG. 2). A user accesses the panel of adapters 32 from a frontopening 28 of the chassis 12 without sliding the drawer 34 forward.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the panel of adapters 32 includes a facepanel 42 that defines a number of openings 44 (only one shown). Adapters46 are mounted within the openings 44. In the illustrated embodiment,the adapters are LC type adapters; however, other types of adapters,such as SC, ST, FC and MPO type adapters can also be used in accordancewith the principles disclosed. Further, in the illustrated embodiment,the adapters 46 are blocked or grouped; each adapter block 58 includingeight adapters 46 (four adapter pairs). Other number of adapters can beprovided in an adapter block, such as four adapters (two adapter pairs),for example; the openings in the face panel 42 being correspondinglysized to receive the four-adapter blocks. Alternative, single adapterscan be used and mounted with openings sized to receive the singleadapters.

The openings 44 of the face panel 42 are arranged in rows; each row ofmounted adapter blocks 58 defines an adapter array 48. What is meant bya row is that the openings 44 are arranged in a generally horizontalalignment, as opposed to being arranged in a column or in a verticalalignment; accordingly, the adapter arrays 48 are generally horizontaladapter arrays.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, the adapters 46 of the adapter blocks 58each includes a front connection end 50 (FIG. 1) and a rear connectionend 52 (FIG. 4). When mounted within the openings 44, the frontconnection ends 50 of the adapters 46 are located toward the frontopening 28 of the chassis 12, and the rear connection ends 52 of theadapters 46 are located toward the rear wall 20 of the chassis 12. Thefront connection ends 50 of the adapters 46 define open frontward cableconnection locations 54 (FIG. 2) of the face panel 42. The rearconnection ends 52 of the adapters 46 define open rearward cableconnection locations 56 (FIG. 4) of the face panel 42.

What is meant by “open cable connection locations” are locations thatare provided in an open region in the chassis 12, as opposed to aconnection location that is enclosed within a housing or module, thehousing or modules in turn being mounted within the chassis. That is,the panel of adapters 32 is a panel of unenclosed adapters 46 that arenot enclosed relative to the other adapters 46 on the face panel 42.While the panel of adapters itself is enclosed within the chassis 12,the plurality of adapters 46, and each of the adapter arrays 48 are notenclosed separately from the other adapters 46 or the other adapterarrays 48.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the adapter arrays 48 of the facepanel 42 are designed to slide in a lateral direction independent ofother adapter arrays. In particular, the face panel 42 is defined by anumber of separate panel sections 60. In the illustrated embodiment,each separate panel section defines one row of openings in which theblocks 58 of unenclosed adapters 46 are mounted, i.e., each panelsection 60 contains one adapter array 48. In other embodiments, thepanel sections can include, for example, two rows of openings thatreceive four-adapter blocks, for example; this panel section embodimentcontaining two adapter arrays.

The face panel 42 of the adapter panel arrangement 10 illustratedincludes six panel sections 60—two panel sections 60 positionedside-by-side, and stacked three panel sections high (see FIG. 1). Eachpanel section 60 contains six blocks 58 having eight adapters 46 for atotal of 288 frontward connection locations and rearward connectionlocations. Each separate panel section 60 is designed to selectivelyslide in a forward, lateral direction (A) independent of the other panelsections. The forward, lateral direction (A) is a direction extendingbetween the front opening 28 and the rear wall 20, as opposed to adirection which is transverse to the bottom wall 18 of the chassis 12,for example.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, each separate panel section 60 of the panel ofadapters 32 is attached to a sliding frame piece 62. The sliding framepiece 62 includes a pair of elongated rail members 64. In theillustrated embodiment, the elongated rail members 64 include a forwardrail portion 84 that extends forwardly from the panel section 60, and arearward rail portion 86 that extends rearwardly from the panel section60. The sliding frame piece 62 can include a cross-support 88 tomaintain the structural relationship of the rail members 64.

The pairs of elongated rail members 64 are arranged to engage and slidewithin pairs of guides 66 (one shown in FIGS. 10-12) that are mounted tothe framework structure 30 (FIG. 1) of the arrangement 10. The railmembers 64 and the guides 66 include a stop arrangement 68 that limitsthe sliding motion of the panel sections 60 between a rearward position(see the top panel section 60 in FIG. 5) and a forward position (see thebottom panel section 60 in FIG. 5).

Referring to FIGS. 9-12, the stop arrangement 68 (FIG. 12) is defined byat least one projection 70 (FIGS. 10 and 11) located on each guide 66 ofthe pair of guides, and first and second pockets or detents 72, 74 (FIG.9) formed in the rail members 64. In the illustrated embodiment, twoprojections 70 (upper and lower projections) are provided on each of theguides 66. Correspondingly, upper and lower detents 72, 74 (see FIG. 8)are formed in the rearward rail portions 86 of the rail members 64.While the illustrated embodiment depicts the detents 72, 74 formed inthe rail members 64 and the projections 70 provided on the guides 66, itis contemplated that the detents can be formed in the guides 66 and theprojection correspondingly provided on the rail members 64.

Referring still to FIGS. 9-12, when the panel section 60 is positionedin the rearward position, the projections 70 of the guides 66 seatwithin the first detents 72 of the rail members 64 to retain the panelsection 60 in the rearward position. The guides 66 are flexiblyconstructed so that when the panel section 60 is pulled forward, theprojections 70 un-seat and slide along top and bottom surfaces 76, 77(FIG. 8) of the rail members 64. Referring to FIG. 12, when the panelsection 60 reaches the forward position, the projections 70 seat withinthe second detents 74 of the rail members 64. This stop arrangement 68indicates to a user when the panel section 60 has reached thepredetermined forward position, and similarly, the rearward position.

Referring back to FIG. 5, in general, the stop arrangement 68 providesan indication of when the panel section 60 has moved a lateral distanceD forward from the rearward position to the forward position. In oneembodiment, the lateral distance D is no more than about 4.0 inchesforward from the rearward position. In the illustrated embodiment, thelateral distance D is about 1.7 inches. Providing such an indication tothe user prevents the user from moving the panel section 60 a distancebeyond that which cables interconnected to the panel section 60 willallow.

In particular, as previously described, the present panel arrangement 10is designed such that the drawer 34 is intended to slide only duringinstallation procedures, as opposed to post-installation or duringoperative use. Referring to FIG. 4, during installation, cables 36, suchas fiber optic cables, are routed into the chassis 12 through rearopenings 38 and terminated to the open rearward connection locations 56of the face panel 42 (i.e., the rear connector ends 52 of the adapters46).

The fiber optic cables 36 have a predetermined length that can be routedabout cable storage spools or structures (see e.g., 78, 80 in FIG. 1).The predetermined lengths of the cables, however, do not have enoughslack to accommodate drawer 34 movement during operative use, and thearrangement 10 does not have devices such as sliding radius limitersthat take up or manage excessive movement of such cable slack.

In present panel arrangement 10, the predetermined lengths of the cablesgenerally accommodate only the limited sliding movement of the panelsections 60. That is, while the drawer 34 may be slid out for purposesof installation, or for repairs requiring access to the region behindthe panel of adapters 32, the drawer 34 is not intended to slide forpurposes of accessing the panel of adapters 32 during operative use ofthe adapter panel arrangement 10. Operative use and access to the panelof adapters 32 is instead provided by the sliding movement of the panelsections 60 relative to the sliding movement of the drawer 34.

In general, the lateral sliding movement of the panel sections 60provides access to the open cable connections (e.g., 54, 56) defined bythe adapter arrays 48. Access to the open connection locations (e.g.,54, 56) of the face panel 42 is important in two primary instances: thefirst instance being during installation (e.g., during initial installor assembly, or during repair, replacement, or upgrade of the cableterminations at the rearward connection locations 56 of the panel 32);the second instance being after installation during operative use of thearrangement 10.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 4, during installation, the drawer 34 ispulled out to the open position. As previously described, a technicianroutes the fiber optic cables 36 through the rear openings 38 of thechassis 12 and terminates the cables to the open rearward connectionlocations 56 of the panel of adapters 32. To provide better access tothe rear connection ends 52 of the adapters 46 defining the rearwardconnection locations 56, one of the adapter arrays 48 is positioned inthe rearward position (e.g., the top array), while the remaining adapterarrays (e.g., the arrays located beneath the top array (see also FIGS. 5and 6)) are positioned in the forward position. In this configuration,the technician has better access to the open rearward connectionlocations 56 of the one panel section 60 positioned in the rearwardposition. Once cable terminations to that particular adapter array 48are complete, that adapter array can be slid forward and the next arrayto which cables are to be terminated slid rearward.

Referring to FIG. 4, to provide even further access to the open rearwardconnection locations 56, the top wall 16 of the chassis 12 includesremovable access panels 92. Referring to FIG. 2, each of the panels 92slides outward in a direction B from the top wall 16 of the chassis 12.In FIG. 2, the panels 92 are shown engaged with the top wall 16. Inparticular, each panel 92 is locked in place by a flexible tab 94 thatengages a hem or roll 98 formed in a top wall portion 100 of the topwall 16. The flexible tab 94 is defined by slots 96 formed in the panel92. The hem or roll 98 is formed by bending or rolling a section of thetop wall 16 over on itself; although structure can be attached to thetop wall as an alternative to providing a hem.

To slide one of the panels 92 out, the flexible tab 94 is flexeddownward beyond the hem or roll 98 formed in the top wall portion 100.The panel is then slid out in the direction shown in FIG. 2 and removedto define a top wall opening 104 (see e.g., FIG. 15) located adjacent tothe front opening 28 of the chassis 12. The top wall opening 104provides further access to the open rear connection locations 56. Tore-attach the panel 92, the panel 92 is place in relation to the topwall opening 104, the flexible tab 94 is flexed downward, and the panel92 is then slid back into place. As shown in FIG. 15, retaining flanges102 are formed in the top wall 16 at the top wall openings 104. Theretaining flanges 102 support the panels 92 when attached to the topwall 16 of the chassis 12.

The open rearward connection locations 56 are typically access onlyduring installation procedures, with the exception of repairs orupgrades, for example. The open frontward connection locations 54,however, are accessed on a more regular basis to providecross-connections between telecommunications equipment. Such use isreferred to as operative use, or use that is post-installation andprimarily involves maintaining or establishing cable terminations at thefront connection ends 50 of the adapters 46.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-15, the adapter panel arrangement 10 is shownin operative use. During operative use, the panel of adapters 32 isaccessed through the front opening 28 of the chassis 12, with the drawer34 positioned in the closed position.

As previously described, the cables 36 that enter the interior 14 of thechassis 12 through rear openings 38 are terminated to the open rearconnection locations 56 of the panel of adapters 32. Referring to FIG.13, jumper cables or patching cables 40 are also terminated to the panelof adapters 32; and in particular, to the open frontward connectionlocations 54 of the panel 32. The patching cables 40 provide thecross-connections between the adapter panel arrangement 10 and othertelecommunications equipment (not shown). The patching cables 40 arerouted from the front opening 28 and through side openings 90 (FIG. 3)of the chassis 12 to cable routing structure (e.g., channels, not shown)of the telecommunications system.

Because of the high-density arrangement of the adapters 46, each panelsection 60 of the panel of adapters 32 slides forward to separate theassociated adapter array 48 from the other arrays. By separatelypositioning the panel section 60 and the associated adapter array 48forward, a technician can more easily grasp a particular connector of apatching cable 40, and/or more easily terminate a patching cable to aparticular adapter 46 of the forwardly-positioned array. In addition,and as previously described, the access panels 92 (FIG. 13) of the topwall 16 can be removed (as shown in FIG. 15) to provide even furtheraccess to the open frontward connection locations 54 of the panelsections.

Referring again to FIG. 13, the forward rail portion 84 of the railmember 64 can be used as a handle to pull the panel section 60 forward.Alternatively, the user can slide the panel section 60 forward bygrasping a retaining ring 82 attached to the rail member 64 of thesliding frame piece 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the retainingrings 82 are attached to the ends of outer rail members 64 of thesliding frame piece 62 to protect the patching cables 40 from exceedinga minimum bend radius.

While the present disclosure is described with respect to use in a fiberoptic application, the disclosed panel arrangement can be adapted foruse in other applications. For example, in some applications, coppercables may be used exclusively from fiber optic cables; and accordinglyvarious types of wire terminations or wire connectors can be provided onthe face panel of the arrangement. Still, in other applications havinghybrid cabling, or applications having both types of fiber optic andcopper cabling, the face panel of the arrangement can be provided with acombination of fiber optic and copper connectors and/or adapters.

In general, the present adapter panel arrangement 10 provides ahigh-density adapter panel arrangement while facilitating access tootherwise crowded front and rear connection locations. Because of theaccess design of the present arrangement, the amount of space utilizedon racks and cabinets is minimized; or, in the alternative, allows forexpansion and upgrade of systems having spatial constraints, as moredensely packed connection locations are provided without sacrificingeffective access to the connection locations.

The above specification provides a complete description of the presentinvention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, certain aspects ofthe invention reside in the claims hereinafter appended.

1. (canceled)
 2. A chassis arrangement comprising: a) a chassis housingdefining an interior accessible through an open front of the chassishousing; b) a first sliding member coupled to the chassis housing, thefirst sliding member extending between a front and a rear, the firstsliding member being configured to slide relative to the chassis housingso that at least a portion of the first sliding member passes throughthe open front of the chassis housing; c) a row of front ports supportedby the first sliding member and configured to slide relative to thefirst sliding member along an axis extending between the front and rearof the first sliding member, each front port defining a fiber opticconnection location; and d) a front cover configured to pivot between anopen position and a closed position, the front cover extending acrossthe row of front ports when the cover is in the closed position.
 3. Thechassis arrangement of claim 2, wherein the row of front ports is afirst row of front ports and wherein a second row of front ports also issupported by the first sliding member, the second row of front portsalso being configured to slide relative to the first sliding member, andwherein the second row of front ports slides independent of the firstrow of front ports, and wherein each port in the second row of frontports defines a fiber optic connection location.
 4. The chassisarrangement of claim 3, wherein the second row of front ports ishorizontally aligned with the first row of front ports.
 5. The chassisarrangement of claim 2, wherein the front ports are defined by opticaladapters.
 6. The chassis arrangement of claim 5, wherein a plurality ofthe optical adapters form an optical adapter block.
 7. The chassisarrangement of claim 5, wherein the optical adapters define a row ofrear ports that face in an opposite direction from the row of frontports.
 8. The chassis arrangement of claim 5, wherein the opticaladapters are mounted to a frame that moves relative to the first slidingmember to slide the row of front ports relative to the first slidingmember, the frame being carried by the first sliding member.
 9. Thechassis arrangement of claim 8, wherein the optical adapters definingthe row of front ports are stationary relative to each other whenmounted to the frame.
 10. The chassis arrangement of claim 8, whereinthe row of front ports is a first row of front ports and the frame is afirst frame, and wherein a second row of front ports is supported by thefirst sliding member, the second row of front ports being defined bysecond optical adapters that are stationary relative to each other whenmounted to a second frame, the second frame being slidable relative tothe first sliding member and independent of the first frame.
 11. Thechassis arrangement of claim 2, wherein the first sliding member isconfigured to slide between a closed position and an open position,wherein the row of front ports is disposed within the chassis housingwhen the first sliding member is disposed in the closed position andwherein the row of front ports is disposed external of the chassishousing when the first sliding member is disposed in the open position.12. The chassis arrangement of claim 2, wherein the first sliding memberis a drawer.
 13. The chassis arrangement of claim 2, wherein the row offront ports is a first row of front ports, and further comprising asecond row of front ports disposed above the first row of front ports,the second row of front ports being independently slidable relative tothe first row of front ports, each of the front ports in the second rowdefining a fiber optic connection location.
 14. The chassis arrangementof claim 2, wherein the row of front ports is mounted to a frame thatmoves relative to the first sliding member to slide the row of frontports relative to the first sliding member, the frame including a railmember configured to slide along guides carried by the first slidingmember.
 15. The chassis arrangement of claim 2, wherein the row of frontports is configured to slide relative to the first sliding member alongan axis that is parallel with insertion axes of the front ports.
 16. Achassis arrangement comprising: a) a chassis housing defining aninterior accessible through an open front of the chassis housing; b) afirst sliding member coupled to the chassis housing, the first slidingmember being configured to slide relative to the chassis housing so thatat least a portion of the first sliding member passes through the openfront of the chassis housing; c) a first row of front ports supported bythe first sliding member and configured to slide relative to the firstsliding member along a first axis extending between the a front and arear of the first sliding member, each front port in the first rowdefining a fiber optic connection location; and d) a second row of frontports configured to slide relative to the first sliding member along asecond axis parallel to the first axis, each front port in the secondrow defining a fiber optic connection location, wherein the second rowof front ports slides independent of the first row of front ports. 17.The chassis arrangement of claim 16, wherein the second row of frontports is horizontally aligned with the first row of front ports.
 18. Thechassis arrangement of claim 16, wherein the front ports in the firstand second rows are defined by optical adapters.
 19. The chassisarrangement of claim 18, wherein a plurality of the optical adaptersform an optical adapter block.
 20. The chassis arrangement of claim 18,wherein the optical adapters define rear ports that face in an oppositedirection from the front ports.
 21. The chassis arrangement of claim 16,wherein the first and second rows of front ports are configured to sliderelative to the first sliding member along axes that are parallel withinsertion axes of the front ports.